Healthcare Costs of Mammography Screening and Breast Cancer Treatment: A Registry-Based Study From Norway
Author(s)
Susanne G. Værnø, MSc1, Maren Gillebo, MSc1, Emily Annika Burger, PhD2, Christoffer Bugge, PhD1, Erik Magnus Sather, PhD1, Kine Pedersen, PhD2.
1Oslo Economics, Oslo, Norway, 2University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
1Oslo Economics, Oslo, Norway, 2University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
OBJECTIVES: Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among Norwegian women, with around 4000 new cases yearly and 600 related deaths in 2022. Mammography screening is a preventative measure aimed at identifying cancer in earlier stages, enabling more effective treatment and reducing mortality rates. However, mammography screening raises concerns of overdiagnosis and requires substantial resources. To inform policy analyses related to breast cancer prevention and treatment, we estimate the Norwegian healthcare costs of the current breast cancer screening program and breast cancer treatment.
METHODS: We estimate average healthcare cost per screening, follow-up examinations, cancer treatment by cancer type and stage and total healthcare costs of breast cancer screening and treatment in Norway in 2025. We used data from the Norwegian Cancer Registry, The Norwegian Health Economics Administration and Statistics Norway, supplemented with existing literature and interviews with experts. Following Norwegian guidelines for economic evaluation, patient’s travel and time costs was included.
RESULTS: In 2025, the current Norwegian program is projected to require approximately 258000 primary screening and 7500 follow-up examinations. The estimated cost per exam is NOK 2300 and NOK 4500, accordingly. Treatment costs for the 2459 diagnosed cancers ranged from NOK 145000 to NOK 430000 per woman, depending on stage at diagnosis. Excluding time and travel costs, the estimated annual total costs were NOK 411 million for primary screening, NOK 22 million for follow-up examinations, and NOK 555 million for cancer treatment. When including time and travel costs, these totals increased to NOK 589 million for screening, NOK 33 million for follow-up, and NOK 620 million for treatment.
CONCLUSIONS: The Norwegian breast cancer screening program requires considerable resources. Estimates on resource use associated with both prevention and treatment of breast cancer may help inform future analyses that evaluate breast cancer control policies, including cost-effectiveness analyses used to inform priority setting.
METHODS: We estimate average healthcare cost per screening, follow-up examinations, cancer treatment by cancer type and stage and total healthcare costs of breast cancer screening and treatment in Norway in 2025. We used data from the Norwegian Cancer Registry, The Norwegian Health Economics Administration and Statistics Norway, supplemented with existing literature and interviews with experts. Following Norwegian guidelines for economic evaluation, patient’s travel and time costs was included.
RESULTS: In 2025, the current Norwegian program is projected to require approximately 258000 primary screening and 7500 follow-up examinations. The estimated cost per exam is NOK 2300 and NOK 4500, accordingly. Treatment costs for the 2459 diagnosed cancers ranged from NOK 145000 to NOK 430000 per woman, depending on stage at diagnosis. Excluding time and travel costs, the estimated annual total costs were NOK 411 million for primary screening, NOK 22 million for follow-up examinations, and NOK 555 million for cancer treatment. When including time and travel costs, these totals increased to NOK 589 million for screening, NOK 33 million for follow-up, and NOK 620 million for treatment.
CONCLUSIONS: The Norwegian breast cancer screening program requires considerable resources. Estimates on resource use associated with both prevention and treatment of breast cancer may help inform future analyses that evaluate breast cancer control policies, including cost-effectiveness analyses used to inform priority setting.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2
Code
EE501
Topic
Economic Evaluation, Health Policy & Regulatory
Topic Subcategory
Cost/Cost of Illness/Resource Use Studies
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas, Oncology